Rock n' Roll Frankenstein (1999)
I received a package from Brian O'Hara (director, writer, filmmaker) a couple of weeks ago containing the press package and screener for his infamous film "Rock 'N Roll Frankenstein."  This film has been given generally favorable treatment on the net and has been shown at film festivals throughout the world.  Part of the press package contained a small rubber rodent wrapped in a condom which should prepare you for the viewing experience that follows. 

      I hated this film.  I found it offensive.  It breaks all the rules (whatever these are, perhaps, morally, religiously, pick a religion, ethically, politically, etc.) and goes gloriously over-the-top, celebrating and wallowing in its depravity.  Of course, that was the point, without such crudeness, the film would never have been noticed.  Still, one must draw the line somewhere even if such line is becoming more and more difficult to identify these days.

The Story:
    A record producer has lost his meal ticket and turns to a mad scientist to create the perfect rock star from the rejuvenated body parts of dead musicians.  A "Cheech and Chong's" wannabe is employed to travel throughout the world and procure the remains of fallen idols such as Buddy Holly, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Elvis, and somehow (don't ask me to explain) a special portion of Liberace.   The coupling of these parts, "Frankenstein" style, results in a being with confused sexuality with very disturbing habits.  Much of the film is just yucky handling its provocative material immaturely.

The Review:
    Mr. O'Hara and I exchanged emails where he admitted that sometimes he wonders whether he went too far.  Maybe hindsight is 20/20.   Maybe he will gross us out all the way to the bank.  It is safe to say, however, that this film will be shown or distributed unrated and will not be on the shelves of your local Blockbuster.

      In my email conversations with O'Hara, he admitted that he definitely had a personal agenda in making "Rock 'N Roll Frankenstein." Shamelessly, the film targets homosexuals, anti-abortionists, and the church. Sometimes the social commentary is effective. O'Hara told me that "the blasphemous scene in the church (which shocks some people), that pretty much sums up my [O'Hara's] feelings about Catholicism, and all other religions for that matter."

Frankie diligently works on body parts that will go into his creation

      O'Hara has had a lot of fun modernizing the "Frankenstein" saga. In doing so, he told me that "it was only logical to highlight the issue of what's called 'sexual orientation.' And to me [O'Hara] it was inherently funny to stick a heterosexual man with a homosexual sex organ (especially when it speaks with the voice of Liberace)." The movie does get some laughs out this plot device but then the joke takes on a mean-spirited and even unexpected turn, beware. Maybe, homosexual Americans will take the Elton John approach and laugh; I seriously doubt it, however.

      When I was in the 11th grade, I saw "Re-Animator" on cable with a room full of my fellow high school students and found it extremely entertaining.  We winced, screamed and looked away as disembodied ghouls performed horrendous acts that I will not mention.   Since then, I have seen "From Beyond" and other horror films (like "Head of the Family") that use gross vulgarity to generate interest appealing primarily to a narrow audience mainly populated by teenage boys.   "Re-Animator" has to be considered ground-breaking in that it was somehow able to harness wild irreverence appealing to a wider audience than its predecessors and much of its successors (there is, yet, another sequel coming out this year).  It was a benchmark of sorts, but that was 16 years ago.

      "Rock 'N Roll Frankenstein" is not "Re-Animator" its even more over-the-top and maybe a sign of the times.  Amazingly, in places, it reminded me of the great "Eating Raoul" but managed to be darker and sicker.  There are scenes in "Rock 'n Roll Frankenstein" I will not forget, images that are just nauseating.

Frankie tweaks the monster's grey matter, hoping to ease his troubled mind

      Maybe I found this movie insulting and offensive because it is not devoid of intelligence.  The music is solid (see http://www.rrfrankenstein.com/ for free downloads), the effects are cheesy cool and even chilling, the coupling of The King's brain and Liberace's  private parts is funny and intriguing, but any good elements are weighed down by trashiness that I found unappealing.  Of course, maybe at age 30, I'm just an unhip prude.  It is possible, you know, I gave up video games in the 1980s and comic books in the early 1990s.  "The X-Men" was lost on me even though I have a closet full of Marvel.  I play golf.

      It is my sincere hope that "Rock 'N Roll Frankenstein" does not establish a new benchmark for horror filmmaking.  After all, where would we go next?  Rarely is being gross groundbreaking.

Jonathan Hickman